Flushing apparatus for milking systems



J1me 1954 R. s. HEMMINGER FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR MILKING SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 5, 1950 3mm Rage 5. Ji'emm Inger ATTORNEYS Jun 8, 1954 R. s. HEMMINGER FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR MIL-KING SYSTEMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1950 mm N ATTO R N EYS Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES T pm FLUSHIN G APPARATUS FOR MILKING SYSTEMS Roger S. Hemminger, Modesto, Califi, assignor to Berry Milking System, Modesto, Califi, a partnership Application July 3, 1950, Serial No.

5 Claims. lhis invention is directed to, and it is to provide, a novel apparatus for an object flushing, after flow-type milking system dairy; in Patent No. to George W.

being illustrated January 29, 1952,

mounting device for each claw unit, of the milking system, during the flushing cycle.

It is also an object of the invention to provide flushing apparatus which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and convenience of operation and maintenance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable flushing apparatus for milking systems, and one which will be exceedingly eirective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the flushing apparatus as in use in connection with a milking system; the apparatus being shown in the initial or cold-water entry stage of the cycle.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, but shows the apparatus in the circulating stage of the cycle.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective elevational view of the supporting or mounting device used for each claw unit.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the flushing apparatus is adapted for use in connection with a continuous flow-type milking system which cated generally at 3.

The vacuum-actuated milk receiving and discharging unit 3 includes a plurality of vertically staged tanks 3, 5, and 6; the uppermost tank 4 being a receiver; the intermediate tank 5 includl8 is connecter between the and the vacuum line I, while a manual valve 59 hose I! and the milk line 2.

After use of a milking system of the type it is requisite that such system and it is the purpose of the to accomplish this end by novel apparatus, as follows:

The numeral 01 25 each carry upstanding nozzles 2.? on which the teat cups i5 removably engage.

It is understood that the milking system includes a number of the claw units id, and consequently there will be a corresponding number of the claw unit supporting devices 23 all connected in communication with the main flow pipe 22.

A return pipe 23 leads from the bottom of the lowermost tank 6 to connection into the main flow pipe 22 adjacent but short of the tank 2%.

A water entry, solenoid. valve is is interposed in the main flow pipe 22 between the tank 29 and the point of connection of the return pipe 28; there being a circulation control, solenoid valve 36 in said return pipe 28.

Between the water entry valve 29 and the claw unit supporting device 23, but beyond the point of connection of the return pipe 23, the main flow pipe 22 is in communication with an air entry pipe 3! and a soap entry pipe 32. The latter pipe connects to a liquid soap tank 33.

An air entry, solenoid valve 34 is interposed in the pipe 53, and a soap entry, solenoid valve as is interposed in the pipe 32.

The solenoid valves 29, 3d, 3 and 35 are controlled, in predetermined timed or cycled relation, by a switch unit, indicated generally at 36.

The switching unit 35 is of rotary switch type and includes a plurality of rotary switches, hereinafter identified, on a common shaft 3' driven from a motor 38.

The switching unit 36 includes a rotary switch 59 connected to the motor 39 by a control circuit 39a; a rotary entry, solenoid valve 29 by a control circuit a rotary switch 32 connected to the soap entry, solenoid. valve 35 by a control circuit a rotary switch ill connected to the circulation control, solenoid valve 3d by a control circuit and a rotary switch lt connected to the air entry, solenoid valve (i l by a control circuit M.

The switching unit 36 has a common connection with the lead i i of the main energizing circuit by means of a collector ring R.

The control circuits 3%, M, d3, t5, and il include switch blades 58, d3, 553, 5!, and 52, respectively, and said circuits, under the influence of the corresponding rotary switches, serve to energize the described solenoid valves. solenoid valves are of a type which are normally closed, but open when the solenoid is energized.

The numeral 53 indicates a relay circuit connected in parallel to the motor control circuit 39a, so that when the latter is energized so is the relay circuit 53; the latter including a relay 5%. The relay Ed is wired so that when it is energized it closes the circuit ill for motor 9, to the end that the vacuum pump 8 may run at all times during operation of the motor 38, and which is necessary to the operation of the flushing apparatus.

When the apparatus is to be used, each claw unit as is placed upon the corresponding supporting device 23, and with all of the solenoid valves in their initially closed position the switching unit 38 is manually actuated to cause the motor control switch 39 to come into play, i. e. to maintain the motor Bil in operation for a predetermined length of time; it being understood that the shaft 3? is turned very slowly by said motor.

With each revolution of the motor control switch 39, the following cycle occurs under the r meanin rotary switches.

switch dd connected to the water Firstly, the rotary switch 40, as in Fig. 1, causes the water entry v lve 29 to open for a the initially cold water the tank 20 passes through the main flow 22, and thence delivers, by means of the supporting device -23, into the teat cups l5 of the supported claw unit M, effectively flushing these parts. From the claw unit M the water flows through the milking system, including milk hose H, milk line 2, and milk receiving and discharge unit 3, also flushing these parts. The of flush water delivers into, and in, the tank 8 of the unit 3.

It should be noted that the flushing apparatus, together with the milking system, is under the influence of vacuum, created by the pump 8, during the entire flushing cycle. This enhances or boosts the flow of water in its flushing course.

After the initial cold water flushing step, the switch 48 closes the valve 29, whereupon the switch it opens the air entry valve i l for a limited period of time, and then said valve closes and the switch All opens the valve 29 for a further flushing step, this time with hot water which has fed into the tank 26 from pipe 2| to replace the previously withdrawn cold water.

During the time that the valve 29 is open to permit the hot water to enter the main flow pipe 22, the switch 52 opens the soap entry valve 35 so that liquid soap from tank 33 then feeds through pipe 32 into the main flow pipe 22.

The switches is and 12 close the valves 29 and 35 at substantially the same time, whereuponafter an air entry caused by switch 46 opening valve 3% for a limited time-the switch ti l opens the circulation control valve 30 so that the flush water may circulate from the tank 6, through return pipe 28, and into the main flow pipe 22 for continuous flow in a flushing circuit through the several parts of the flushing apparatus and the milking system. This is a relatively long period, and during this period of circulation of the flushing water the switch 46 acts intermittently to open valve 34 so that recurrent supplies of air are in effect injected into the flushing water in order to agitate and enhance the action thereof.

length of time predetermined for the circulation of the flushing water, the switch 4Q causes the circulation control valve to close, whereupon the flushing water all accumulates in the tank 6 and is drained by opening the valve 1.

The next step in the cycle of operations is opening of the air entry valve 34 by the switch 46 for a period of time adequate to permit the air to sweep all of the water out of the flushing apparatus and milking system into the tank 6.

After this step the switch 39 returns to its starting position, and at which position the motor control circuit 38a opens and the apparatus comes to rest.

With the above described flushing apparatus a continuous flow type milking system, together with the milk receiving and discharging unit 3, may be automatically flushed after milking operations at the dairy; the flushing operation being complete and effective, as is necessary to the maintenance of sanitary conditions.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth the present 5 and preferred construction of the device, still in appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the fol lowing is claimed as new and useful, and upon d to a source of Water under pressure, a pipe unit connected to the first pipe intermediate its ends and adapted for detachable connection with the claws of the teat-cup unit of the syspump connected to the receiving tank series to operate for such time, a second pipe connected to the pipe unit ahead of the container and open to atmosphere; said time-controlled mechanism 4. A flushing apparatus for a milking system having a receiving tank series and a number of 5. A system as in claim 4, in which the nozzles on one lateral slope upwardly toward the nozzies on the other lateral and all said nozzles are tapered to wedgingly fit into the teat cups.

References Gited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

